The spelling of the word "Kealy" can be confusing due to the inconsistency between the pronunciation and phonetic transcription. According to the IPA, "Kealy" should be pronounced as /kiːli/. The 'e' before the 'a' is silent, and the 'a' is pronounced as a long 'e', similar to the sound in "feel". Therefore, despite the unconventional spelling, "Kealy" stays true to its phonetic transcription, making it a unique name with a distinct pronunciation.
The word "Kealy" is a surname of Irish origin. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name "Ó Cadhlaigh", which means "descendant of Cadhlaigh". The Gaelic name "Cadhlaigh" is derived from the word "cadhla", meaning "graceful" or "beautiful". The surname "Kealy" can be traced back to County Carlow in Ireland, where the Ó Cadhlaigh clan originated.